charleston ; the unwilling ##ness of mo ##ult ##rie and ru ##tled ##ge to support the effort may also have played a role . the americans also constructed an en ##tre ##nch ##ment at the northern end of sullivan ' s island , which was manned by more than 750 men and three small cannons , and began to fort ##ify a guard post at had ##dre ##ll ' s point on the mainland opposite fort sullivan . general clinton encountered the first major problem of the attack plan on june 17 . an attempt to wade the channel between the two islands established that part of the channel was at least shoulder @ - @ deep , too deep for troops to cross even without the prospect
charleston ; the unwillingness of moultrie and rutledge to support the effort may also have played a role. the americans also constructed an entrenchment at the northern end of sullivan's island, which was manned by more than 750 men and three small cannons, and began to fortify a guard post at haddrell's point on the mainland opposite fort sullivan. general clinton encountered the first major problem of the attack plan on june 17. an attempt to wade the channel between the two islands established that part of the channel was at least shoulder @ - @ deep, too deep for troops to cross even without the prospect